The Obama administration renewed its push today for legislation that would prohibit employment discrimination against gays and lesbians.

Thomas Perez, the U.S. Justice Department's assistant attorney general for civil rights, testified before a Senate panel that the legislation is a "top legislative priority" for the administration, even as the White House focuses on health care and global warming. The legislation was first introduced at least 15 years ago, but advocates for gays and lesbians are optimistic that it will pass in 2010.

Perez, giving his first testimony on Capitol Hill since his confirmation a month ago, said the federal government is at a loss now to fight discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Twenty-one states explicitly prohibit employment discrimination based on sexual orientation, he said.